Chains of Freedom Review

Recently, I’ve invested hours playing mindless indie titles with little depth. The casual nature of these games was reassuring. However, I needed something a little more testing. Therefore, when I was offered Chains of Freedom, I couldn’t resist. This turn-based RPG has been out for a short while. Accordingly, I know I’m late to the party. Yet, better late than never, is better than not at all, I hope.

This challenging apocalyptic nightmare was created by Nordcurrent. It is set in a twisted Eastern European reality, and death is the recurring theme. Moreover, failure, loss, and drama are key elements. As such, you must plan, be careful, and take every mission as it comes if you wish to stay alive.

Chains of Freedom tells a daunting tale.

A dystopian future filled with humanity-altering crystals doesn’t sound pleasant. However, this is the reality for the protagonists of Chains of Freedom. Additionally, a political battle plays second fiddle to the obvious sense of death and destruction.

You control a rough, tough bunch of mercenaries. These bruisers must work together if they wish to overcome an array of hostile forces. Moreover, a mysterious affliction known as EDEN must be avoided. Mutations, criminals, and other creatures are to be killed or ignored as you progress through every daunting chapter.

Turn-based action.

If you love Xcom and other turn-based games, then Chains of Freedom will be right up your street. You freely move from location to location, exploring rooms, gathering resources, and completing tasks. Yet, if you are spotted, the game slows to a methodical turn-based approach.

Line of sight, accuracy, elevation, cover, weaponry, and more must be considered in each encounter. Furthermore, there are explosives, environmental tools, and other tricks to improve your chances. However, danger is just around the corner. If your character dies, that is it! If they are injured, the injury follows you like a bad smell. Consequently, you must weigh up the risks and rewards of every decision.

If this isn’t enough to cope with, you have limited resources. Subsequently, you must search every area thoroughly for ammo, medikits, and other essential supplies. Every extra minute in the field leads to increased risk, and increased risk leads to death. Therefore, you have to balance risk and reward carefully.

Chains of Freedom is an atmospheric treat.

I love to lose myself in any game I play. Put on a decent set of headphones, and let the soundtrack do its work. Chains of Freedom is an aesthetic treat. The audio is brilliant, the visuals are special, and the setting is uncomfortable. If you adore an atmospheric game that doesn’t undermine its core mechanics, then this is for you.

I prefer PC gaming when I tackle this genre. Accordingly, I was pleasantly surprised by the control system and the fantastic tutorial. Though there is a lot to learn, you are guided through every key moment. I was helped by the choice of 3 difficulty settings. I admit I started with the easiest one, but I regretted this approach. If you are familiar with the genre, opt for the middle level and go from there.

Chains of Freedom is a great addition to the genre.

Plenty of developers dip their toes into this challenging genre. Sadly, many get it horribly wrong. Chains of Freedom does a phenomenal job with practically every element. The gameplay is methodical, tough, and captivating. Moreover, visually it is impressive, and the audio is captivating. As such, I think it’s a great addition to the genre, and you should buy a copy from the Xbox store!